DOT Four-Opioid Panel Testing Rule Finalized

Last fall, the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) made a final ruling on the proposed rules to include opioids in their drug testing panel for safety-sensitive employees. The proposal went into effect on January 1st of this year. What does this mean for employees who must abide by DOT regulations?

Opioid Testing For DOT

Approximately 6.3 million DOT-regulated drug tests are given annually. The DOT drug testing program now includes testing for hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone. Additionally, methylenedioxyamphetamine has been added as an initial test analyte, and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine has been removed as a confirmatory test analyte.

Response to the Opioid Crisis

Hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone were added to the drug panel in response to the opioid crisis affecting the nation. America suffers from an epidemic of opiate over-prescription, which drug addicts abuse. In the past few years, there have been more DOT accidents caused by opioids and this ruling is designed to cut down on employees who are putting others at risk.

Consistency Through Drug Testing

These four semi-synthetic opioids were added to provide consistency as mandated by Federal statute, OTETA. This applies to specimen testing validity values as well as initial and confirmatory testing values. The revision ensures that DOT testing regulations are complacent the Health and Human Services Mandatory Guidelines that were revised earlier in 2017. The HHS guidelines apply to Federal drug-testing programs that utilize urine testing. In addition to changes to the DOT drug testing panel, the ruling clarifies existing drug testing program provisions and definitions, makes technical amendments, and removes the requirement for employers and Consortium/Third Party Administrators (TPAs) to submit blind specimens.